Sheet folding device



Nov. 10,` 1970 A. c. LANGsroN SHEET FOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1968INVENTOR. AMB/2055 i LANGJTON BY mA/.6L V. TEF/fr Mv/II United StatesPatent O 3,538,555 SHEET FOLDING DEVICE Ambrose C. Langston, 7963 AmadorAve., Yucca Valley, Calif. 92284 Continuation-impart of application Ser.No. 694,505, Dec. 29, 1967. This application Nov. 14, 1968, Ser. No.775,823

Int. Cl. D06f 55/02 U.S. Cl. 24-81 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREApparatus for assisting in the folding of sheets comprising a fixedclamp and a slideable spring mounted clamp in a vertical track wherebythe folded edges of a sheet may be held in stretched position so thatthe operator may easily fold the remaining sheet portion.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationSer. No. 694,505 iiled Dec. 29, 1967 and now abandoned.

One of the main objects of the invention is in the provision of a devicefor folding sheets whereby one of the folded ends is held by a fixedclamp and an opposed end is held by a sliding spring tensioned clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide spaced guided tensionedopposed clamp members for stretching and securing one end of a sheet sothat it may be quickly and easily folded.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a quickly attachabletrack carrying opposed sheet clamping aid stretching members forassisting the sheet folding operation.

It is well known that the folding of sheets from a conventional drier orclothesline is a rather cumbersome job and it is the yfundamental theoryof the present invention to provide an easily wall attachable track andspaced clamp means for securing the ends of a sheet so that the operatorcan quickly and easily fold the remaining portion.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, herewith wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device in position of use;

FIG. 2 is a vfront elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in vertical section of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view partially in section of a modifiedsecuring means for the slideable clamp.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings. Itis apparent at iirst glance that the device is particularly adapted toassist the operator in the folding of sheets. The device is notcomplicated. It quickly clamps the folded ends of a sheet in a verticalsecure and stretched manner so that the operator may easily fold theremaining portion as shown in FIG. 1. The vertical wall attachment ofthe device is preferable but not absolutely necessary.

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The device is particularly adaptable for use in the well known coincontrolled laundries. However, it is useful in the home and elsewhere.

The device itself is relatively simple and easily attached to a wall orotherwise. A partially open inturned edged track or guideway 10 is screw12 or otherwise secured to a wall 14. A block 16 in the track is securedthereto at 18 and also to a conventional clothes pin 20 at 22. Any kindof clamping member could be used. A second lower block 24 attached at 26to a clothes pin or clamp 28 is slideably mounted in the track orguideway 10. The clothes pin 28 is secured at 30 to the upper end of acoil spring 32 carried in the open portion of the track and connected atits lower end at 34 to the lower end thereof.

The track 10 may have a lug 36 lformed therein to limit the downwardmovement of the block 24 and clamp 28. In FIG. 5, a slight modificationis shown wherein the moveable block 24 has a finger manipulated offsetcam means 3-8 for iixedly securing the lower clamp in any desiredposition in the track.

The operation of the device is so obvious as to negative description.The operator clamps one folded end of the sheet in stretched positionand then folds the remainder as desired. A minimum of room space isrequired and the operation, quick, simple and time saving.

I claim:

1. A device for assisting the folding of sheets, comprising:

a vertically disposed elongated track or guideway attachably connectedto a wall or the like;

a sheet clamp mounted in a xed position in the upper end of said trackfor operative attachment to a sheet;

a second clamp slideable in said track below said rst mentioned clamp;and

a tensioning spring at the lower end of the track, said spring beingconnected to said second clamp and `biasing the same downwardly in amanner to hold sheet ends in a stretched position between said twoclamps for easy folding of the remaining portion by the operator.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which means is provided forlimiting the downward movement of the lower clamp.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower clamp is mountedon a block slideable in the track and has mechanism for securing it inany desired position in the track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,803 6/1895 Barns 24-811,105,018 7/1914 Bluhm. 1,607,477 11/ 1926 POtter 24-137.5 2,387,471 10/1945 Simpson. 3,236,425 2/ 1966 Sipe 223-37 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,937 3/1932 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner

